Exploring Pennsylvania’s Civil War Flags

Civil War flags have some of the richest history and stories.  Ever read stories of how Civil War soldiers and color bearers would defend their regimental flags at all costs? Stories of heroism and bravery that are beyond belief because these color bearers knew that they were the target for enemy fire. Tales of men tearing up a flag and hiding it in their coats to avoid it being captured to 5 or 6 color bearers being killed in a single battle. There are monuments these brave men on Civil War battlefields across the US.

Now you can view the flags of Civil War units from Pennsylvania thanks to the Pennsylvania state archives. The Pennsylvania Civil War Flag Collection website allows you to search for individual unit flags, flags by unit type or even by the type of flag.  In addition to this, you can read about some of the history of battlefield flags, battlefield stories, conservation and post-war history of the flags.  I also highly recommend the book Advance the Colors by Richard Sauers for learning more about Civil War Flags of Pennsylvania.

National flags were American flags usually with the unit name painted on one of the strips. The American flag went from having 33 stars in 1859 to 36 stars in 1865. Do you know which states were added to theUnion during the Civil War? State flags were the state flags ofPennsylvania again with the unit designation painted or sewn into the material or an American flag with the Pennsylvania state seal painted into the canton.

Some of my favorites are the 11^th PVI and 83^rd PVI flags. The 11^thPVI’s national color was given to them by the ladies of Martinsburg,Virginia (now W. Virginia) in 1861.  I wonder if the 83rd’s flag was with them on Little Round Top in Gettysburg.

Which ones are your favorites?